Self-propelling apparatus



Feb. 21, 1933. R. K. JEFFREY SELF PROPELLING APPARATUS 3 sheets -sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1931 /NVE/Y7'OF? Haber? K. Jeffrey Feb. 21, 1933. R JEFFREY 1,898,130

SELF PROPELLING APPARATUS Filed May 5, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 21 1933 UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT K. JEFFREY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO, THE JEFFREY MANUFAGIUB- ING COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO SELF-PROIELLING ALPPARATUS Application filed May 5, 1931.- Serial No. 535,280.

The present invention relates to the combination with a portable unit comprising a motor of wheeled means adapted to temporarily support the portable unit and to be .5 propelled by the motor thereof.

According to the embodiment of the invention to be hereinafter described, the portable unit is constituted by an electric drill of the type used in mines for drilling shot holes in the working face. Such drills, while they may be carried from place to place, are frequently of considerable weight, and are ordinarily transported from place to place in the mine on mine cars which require the services of a locomotive which is thus taken from its ordinary haulage duties. According to the present invention I provide a wheeled truck provided with suitable propulsion gearing, the drill being temporarily supportable on the truck with its motor in driving connection with the propulsion gearing.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a practical embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a drill showing its connection with the termmal element of truck propulsion gearing.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a truck with the drill mounted thereon and in driving connection therewith.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section through a portion of the truck propulsion gearing, and

Figure 5 is a section substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, reference numeral 10 indicates a drill frame or casing supporting an electric motor of which the armature is indicated at 11. The armature pinion 12 engages a gear 13 which is fixed on a sleeve 14 revolubly mounted in a bushing 15. Sleeve 14 is formed with a plurality of axially extending internal keys 16 adapted to engage in the keyways of the ordinary feed shaft to rotate the latter while permitting its relative longitudinal movement. When the drill is to be transported, however,

: the feed shaft is removed and accordingly has not been shown in the drawings. Since the remaining drill" structure is of no import tance so far as the present invention is concerned, it is not necessary that it be described here. Thisdrill structure is fully described and claimed in m copending application Serial No. 484,190, filed September 24, 1930. In F igures 2 and 3, reference numeral 17 designates generally a truck frame supported on revoluble axles 18 and 19 to which are fixed the track engaging wheels 20 and 21. J ourfialed instanchions 22 and 23 fixed to the truck frame 17 is a shaft 24 parallel to axle 1S and having keyed on its one end a pinion- 25 engaging a gear 26 keyed to the axle. Freely revoluble on shaft 24' between the stanchions are a'pair of opposedbevel gears 27 and 28 which are in engagement with a bevel pinion 29 keyed to 'a shaft 30, which extends at right angles to shaft 24 and. is journaled in a pair of stanchions'31 and 32, Figures 2 and 4. Longitudinal displacement of shaft 30 is prevented by pinion 29 on the one side of stanchion 31 and a collar 33 fixed to the shaft on the other side of the stanchion. q i Bevel gears 27 and 28 have hollow hubs in which are disposed radially expansible members 34 and 35 keyed to shaft 24. These clutches are controlled bymeans of a lever 36which, through operators 37 and 38, may be moved to engage one or the other of the clutches so that the rotational movement of shaft 30 may be imparted to shaft 24 to cause its rotation in the desired direction. Since the clutchesare of well known construction, and their details are immaterial to the present invention, their further description is believed'to be unnecessary.

Attached to the free end of shaft 30 through a universal joint 39 is a torque shaft provide a pair of cradles of which one is shown in elevation in Figure 5'and desig- 14, and the casing dropped in the cradles and secured, whereupon through manipulation of the motor switch 44 and clutch con-.

trolling lever 36, the truck may be driven in the desired direction, current being supplied through a cable 4.5 or trolley 46, as desired. For the convenient transportation of the drill adjuncts, such as the feed shaft, augers, and so forth, frame 17 is provided with a trough 47 at one side of the casing and gearing.

It will be seen that I have provided a simple and efficient means whereby the portable drill unit serves as prime mover for its own transporting mechanism, and while I have described in detail a practical embodiment of the invention, it .is to be understood that I do not limit myself as to structure except as in the following claims.

I claim: Y

1. In combination, a portable unit comprising a frame, a motor on said frame, a vehicle comprising wheels and propulsion gearing therefor, an upwardly open cradle on the vehicle for receiving said frame, releasable means for securing the frame in the cradle, driving and driven members associated with the motor and propulsion gearing respectively, and adapted to be telescoped when said frame is received in said cradle, one of said members being freely pivotal about a universal joint.

2. In combination, a vehicle comprising a frame and wheels supporting the frame, propulsion gearing for the wheels including a torque shaft mounted on top of the frame and having a freely projecting universally mounted end, a portable unit comprising a casing, a motor in the casing, and a sleeve journaled in the casing for drive'by the motor, and means for temporarilymounting said portable unit on top of the frame with said shaft end engaged in said sleeve for drive thereby.

3. In combination, a vehicle comprising a frame and wheels supporting the frame, propulsion gearing for the wheels including a torque shaft mounted on top of the frame and having a freely projecting universally mounted end, a portable unit comprising a casing, a motor in the casing, and a sleeve journaled in the casing for drive by the motor, and means for temporarily mounting said portable unit on top of the frame with my hand.

ROBERT K. JEFFREY. 

